More than half of the the residents of a village created for the homeless have already secured employment

Villages for homeless people are set to be created across the UK after the success of a Scottish project.

The Social Bite Village in Granton welcomed its first residents in July and is already almost at capacity, with 17 homeless people now staying there while they await permanent accommodation.

The charity created the project in a bid to create accommodation that homeless people can be moved into quickly, which is secure and on more of a long-term basis than traditional temporary housing options.

Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn revealed that five of the residents of the Edinburgh project have already secured employment, with a further five taking on higher education courses.

Charity workers from Cyrenians are on site 24 hours a day to help residents get back on their feet, with most expecting to stay for between a year and 18 months while they wait for a house.

Littlejohn said the “true test” of the project would come when residents started to move into their own flats, but the charity is already speaking to other cities about recreating it around the UK. Representatives from authorities in Aberdeen, Manchester and Sheffield have already been in touch as they look to use the village as a blueprint for similar projects.

Manager of the village Kathy Hoyle said residents had found solace in securing a safe space to live.

“The two words that mainly come out are ‘relief’ and ‘relaxed’,” she said.

“Before they arrive they’ve not really known where they’re going to be that night or how long they’re going to stay.

“This just gives them a little bit of time to relax and breathe, realise that we trust them and they don’t always have to be on their guard.”